Garrett James Heyns
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D - May 17, 2020
Garrett James
Heyns
June 18, 1937 - May 3, 2020
Garrett James Heyns entered
this world on June 18, 1937,
in Elizabeth, New Jersey. His
mother was Alice Perry and
father, Garrett Heyns. He was
a loving son and a brother to
Gerald Heyns. They faithfully
attended a Baptist church
nearby and he was known as an
outstanding student in his school, especially in math, and was the
top student in New Jersey in Physics.
He met his future wife, Lorraine, in a junior high youth group
in church, and they were married when she graduated from high
school. Garrett joined the Army following his graduation and was
given special training in electronics. He was discovered by Western
Electric (later AT&T) to have special skills and the company sent
him to university for an electrical engineering degree. He was hired
by Western Electric as an Inventor and designed several important
devices that improved the convenience of the telephone and its
manufacturing. He retired from AT&T after 33 years. Sadly, their
son, Bruce, was killed in an auto accident when he was 16 years old.
AT&T transferred Garrett and his family from Cranford, New
Jersey to Denver, Colorado in 1969. They joined Bethany Baptist
Church and later transferred to the First Presbyterian Church of
Boulder. Garrett and Lorraine sang in the choir and Garrett became
a Deacon. In 2006 Lorraine died from a stroke and left Garrett
devastated after a beautiful 48-year marriage. God stepped in and
introduced him to the church organist, Martha Sandford, who had
lost her husband, Gordon, in March of 2004. They were married on
April 22, 2007.
Martha and Garrett moved to Grand Junction, CO in 2012, where
they joined the First Presbyterian Church and Garrett became
an Elder, sang in the choir, and Martha was the Interim Music
Director. Martha is currently the organist for American Lutheran
Church in Grand Junction.
Garrett was best known as a humble, sweet, loving spirit. His heart
and soul were dedicated to the Lord. His winning smile won him
many friends and the love of a large family of five children (three
step-children), 22 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.
His is survived by his wife, Martha; children, Kathy (Dan), and
Jennifer (Jeff); step-children, Deborah (Brad), David (Kim), and
Elizabeth (John), and brother, Gerald (Grace) and his children.
His burial will be in Boulder, Colorado, this spring and a
Memorial service at First Presbyterian Church of Grand Junction
to be announced at a later date.
Gifts may be directed to the First
